Machine for shelling nuts.



J. GRIMM.

MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY14, I914.

LMQJQ IL I Patented Aug. 10,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. GRIMM.

MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION map MAY14, 1914.

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MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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JACOB GRTMM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO SAMUEL STIMMEL, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1915.

Application filed May 14, 1914. Serial No. 838,502.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAcoB GRIMM, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forShelling Nuts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the removal of shells from nuts so that thekernels or meat may be takenou't intact. This is accomplished by sawingthrough the shells in such a manner that they will be cut into severalsections and will fall off or may be readily removed by breaking throughany thin films of shell which may be left after the sawing operation isvperformed.

The invention relates particularly to the arrangement and adjustmentofthe several saws. .It also relates to the automatic mechanismforfeeding the nuts from a hopper.

and conveying them past the saws and means for adjusting the saws fordifferent .sizes and varieties of nuts.

The object of the invention is to provide sure and positive. means forfeeding the nuts into the machine anclinto contact with the saws, and todivide the shells into several sections with a plurality of longitudinalcuts intersecting at the poles.

.In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1is a top plan view of the machine with the hopper removed. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3.3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail of the means for adjustingthe saws, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top view of the setof saws with the guides and the nut feeding fingers shown in section.Fig. 6 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 showing theirrelation to certain other parts of the machine,'which are in section asindicated by line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring to drawings, 1 is the bed-plate of the machine which issupported by the hollow standard 2, shown broken away, the foot orflange which rests on the floor not being shown.

3 is the hopper for receiving the nuts. It is retained in position bythe spider 4 attached to a sleeve 5 on the stud 6. The latter also holdsin position a conical plate 7 which causes the nuts to roll toward theoutside of the hopper and drop into the series of holes 8 in the platen9 which is free to revolve on the stud 6. The stud 6 is fixed in thecenter of the plate 10, which is secured to the circular frame 11 at theend of the bed-plate 1 by means of three threaded bolts 12 passingthrough sleeves 13 which are cast lntegral with theframe plate 10. Theplaten 9 is provided with ratchet teeth 14, which engage with'a pawl 15,pivoted on the stud 16, the upper edge of which is slotted and carries aspring 17 for causing the pawl to engage with the-ratchet teeth. Thestud 16 is carried by a web 18, cast integral with the ring 19, which isfree to oscillate on the circular lower portion of the platen 9. Thereis also secured tothe web 18, a stud 20 which constitutes one member ofa ball and socket joint 21 attached to one end of the connecting rod 22.To the other end is attached another ball and socket joint 23 having thestud 24 adjustably secured to the upper end of the feed-lever 25,-whichis pivoted on the stud 26. The cam roller 27 on the feed lever engageswith the cam groove 28 in the cam 29, which is secured to one end on themain shaft 30. It will be seen that the rotation of the cam 29 causesthe oscillation of the pawl 17 and the consequent turning'of the platen9 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Each oscillation turns theplaten 9 a distance equal to the radial spacing of the ratchetteethwhich correspond in number to the holes 8 for receiving the nuts. Toinsure the accurate movement of the platen 9 and to hold it stationarywhen the pawlis not turning it, the platen 9 is provided with -V-shapednotches 31 correspond' ing in number to the holes 8 and being centrallylocated on the same radial lines which pass through the centers of theholes.

. A spring pressed roller 32 centrally located diametrically oppositethe center ofthe thimble 37, is carried by the block 33,

secured by the stud 34 to the web 35 formed on the frame plate 10. Thisconstruction causes the holes 8 to register consecutively with the hole36 in the thimble 37 which is secured in the frame plate 1O.

The square stud 38 secured to a bracket formed on the frame plate 10carries a slide 39, having an arm 40 to which is adjustably secured theupper finger bar 41 which is concentric with the hole 36 in the thimble37. The slide 39 reciprocates vertically, the motion being imparted bythe crank 42 attached thereto by means of the link 43. The crank roller46-.and cam-groove 47. It also insures the smooth operation of themoving arts.

The bracket 49, bolted to the circular frame 11 of the bed-plate 1,supports a downwardly projecting stud- 50, carrying a slide 51 which isconnected by the link 52 ,-to the end of the crank 53. The latter ispivoted on the stud 54 and to its upper end is attached the roller 55which engages with the cam-groove 56 (indicated by dotted lines) in thespur-gear 57 secured to the shaft 30. The action of the cam causes thevertical reciprocation of the slide51 and the parts attached to it. Theslide 51 carries a sleeve 66 which forms a guide for the lowerfinger-bar 67 The latter is provided with a nut 68 which'li'mits itsupward movement in the sleeve 66 due to the spring 69 which is undercompression-between the shoulderof the finger-bar and a counter sunkrecess at the upper end of sleeve 66. Bracket 70 secured to the lowerend of stud supports a fixed rod 71, which projects upward through thecenter of the lower fingerbar 67.

As above stated, the cams 29 and 48, and the spur-gear 57 provided withthe cam groove 56, are all secured to the shaft 30 which is providedwith a bearing 58 and a bearing 59 integral with bracket 45.

The mechanism above described is driven by an electric motor 60,provided with a'pinion 61 meshing with spur-gear 62 secured to shaft 63,to which is also secured pinion 64, meshing with the spur-gear .57. Fourelectric motors, 72 72 73 and 73, are pivotally supported by thebrackets 74, 74, 74 and 74, cast on the bed-plate 1. Attached to theshaft of each motor is a pair of circular saws 75, 75, 7 5 and, 75,respectively, which project through slots of different lengths in thethimble 37 and the finger-bars 41 and 67. The four sets of saws aredrawn toward the center of the thimble 37 and finger-bars 41 and 67 areconcentric with it, by means of the tension springs 76, 7 6, 7 6 and 76,the fixed ends of which are attached to several points on the frame.

Each of the four motors is provided with means for vertical, radial andcenterdistance adjustment by the means indicated in the enlarged detail4. The center distance adjustment is accomplished by sliding the motorson the dove-tail 78 and securing them by means of the three set screws79 in the gibs 80 formed on the lowerside of the motor casing. Thedove-tail 78 is secured to the screw stud 81 formed on the upper end ofthe bearing-stud 82 carried by bearing-sleeve 83. An enlargedbearing-head 84 is formed on the bearing-stud 82 and it rests onball-bearings 85 carried by the bearing-cup formed in the upper end ofthe bearing-sleeve 83'. A ball-bearing is provided because the stud 82must be free to oscillate freely and rapidly to a minute degree as thesaws follow the irregularities of the nut shells through which they aresawing.

The radial adjustment is accomplished by means of the set screw 86carried by an ear 87 formed on the lower side of the dove-tail 78. Theend of the set screw 86 bears against a stop 88 formed on the upper endof the bearing-sleeve 83. These parts are indicated in dotted lines inFig. 1 in the center of the motor 72. It will be seen that the saws 75,75 '75 and 7 5 on the end of the motor shafts may be adjusted toward oraway from the center of the thimble 37 by means of the radial.adjustment described.

The vertical adjustment of each motor, and consequently of the sawsattached to its shaft, is accomplished by means of the knurled nut 89which is attached to the hearing sleeve 83 by means of a screw thread.As the nut 89 rests on the top of the bracket 74, the verticaladjustment of the sleeve 83 may be accomplished by turning the nut 89.

means of the set screw 90, the end of which projects into a slot 91 inthe bearing-sleeve 83 and serves to prevent the rotation of the latter.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the saws and the nut-feeding mechanism on anenlarged scale and particular reference is made to the relativerelations of the saws. I

As above stated, each motor drives a pair of saws which are clampedbetween the sleeves 92, 92, 92 and 92 and the Washers 93, 93 93 and 93secured to the ends of the motor shafts 94, 94, 94 and 94 by the nut 95,95, 95 and 95. The distance between the pair of saws is fixed by thedisks 96, 96,96 and 96, which also serve the important function'ofdetermining the depth of the cuts made by the saws in the nut shells."The latter may be varied by changing the diameter of the disk 96, etc'.,and

the distance between the parallel saw cuts 98, 98 and 98, in the lowerfinger-bar 67. The two sets of slots 97, etc., and 98, etc., registerand there are four slots in each of the membersv disposed approximatelyradially tocorrespond to the disposition of the four pairs of saws aboutthe center of they thimble 37 and the concentric finger-bars 41 and 67.

The edges of the two parallel sets of saws pass by each other orover-lap, one of each of the pair of saws projecting into the spacebetween the pair of saws parallel toit on the opposite side of thecenter of the guiding and feeding mechanism for the nuts. Be-- thedifference in the diameters of the. disks 96 and 96 and the saws and 75.

An important feature of this invention is the relative location of thefour pairs of saws. The two upper pairs 75 and 7 5, driven by the motors72, 72, are located on a higher plane than the two pairs of saws 7 5 and7 5, disposed at approximately right angles to the first pair of saws.rangement of the two sets of saws in different planes make it possiblefor each of the two pairs to over-lap at their adjacent edges, as abovedescribed. It is necessary for the saws to over-lap in order to make thefour pairs of saw cuts over lap on the vertical "center line of the nut,thereby completely dividing the nut shell into four approximately equalsections.

After the nut is carried by the downwardly moving finger-bars 41 and 67'past the lower pair of saws 75 and 75, the downward movement of theupper finger-bar 41 ceases and the lower finger-bar 67 continues to movedownward until the upper ends of the fingers are slightly below theupper end of the fixed rod 71. The bottom of the nut strikes the rod 71which lifts it 'oif of the four supporting fingers of the lowerfingerbar 67 and the nut drops off into a receptacle (not shown) placedunder the center of the fixed rod 71, the shell cutting operation beingcompleted.

The nut shells are sometimes held together around the kernels after theshells are sawed in quarters as described because of the thin septumwhich extends between the two sections of the kernel of some forms ofnuts and connects the opposite sides of the shell. The final operationis to separate the four sections of the shell from the nut by hand, thekernel coming out in one piece.

The use of a fixed rod concentric with the The arnut feeding mechanism(the function of th fixed rod being to disengage the nut from thefeeding mechanism) is a novel feature of this invention.

I have described above the several motions imparted by the three cams29, 47 andj56, to the several members of the machine which they operate:The cycle of operation. is as follows: Beginning with the parts in theposition indicated by Fig. 2, in that position a nut (notshown) .wouldhave dropped upon the two upper rapidly rotating pairs of saws 75 and75.The lower finger-bar'67 would then move upward until theupper' ended itsfingers had lifted the nut clearof the saws.

The upper finger-bar 41 would through the hole in the platen 9into'tlie," hole in the thimble 37 and would be resting then movedownward untll its fourv fingers pressed on the upper end of the nut andforced the lower finger-bar slightly downward in relation tothe sleeve66, thereby slightly increasing the compressionof spring 69. Theyielding spring support for the lower linger-bar 67 is necessary tocompem,

sate for the various sizes of nuts. Nutsof all'sizes are grasped betweenthe upper. andlower finger-bars with a practically uniform pressure. Ifdesired, adjustin After the nut is grasped, between'the upper and lowerfinger-bars 41 and 67 the cams which operate them cause both of them tobe moved downward at the same rate'until the lower end of the upperfinger-bar 41 is about in line with the lower edges of the two pairs ofsaws 75 and 7 5, andthe top of the nut has entirely cleared the saws.The downward movement of the upper finger-bar 41 then ceases and thelower fingerbar 67 continues downward until its upper end is slightlybelow the "upper end of the fixed rod 71, which strikes the bottom ofthe nut and causes it to drop into the receptacle provided for thatpurpose. Both of .the finger b ars then move upward until they inFig. 1. Just after the lower end of the upper finger-bar 41 in itsupward trayel has cleared the upper surface of the platen 9, the cam 29returns the feed lever 25 to the left and the pawl 15 rotates the platen9 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 until the hole 8,shown in Fig. 1 just below the center of the thimble 37,

means for the compression spring 69 may e provided.

{registers with the center of said thimble.

he nut carried by the hole 8, above referred to, then drops into thethimble 37 and thecycle of operations is completed. While platen 9 isbeing turned by the ratchet 14 and pawl 15, the upper finger bar 41remains stationary because the roller 46 is in the portion of thecam-groove .47 which is concentric with the shaft 30, the relation ofthe latter parts being as indiv. cated in Fig. 2.

' f j The cycle of operation above described is l ji'epeatedcontinuously and each cycle efiects r the sawing of the shell of a nutin the man- 15 terpreted as illustrative merely of an operati-veembodiment of my invention and not 'in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A nutshelling machine comprising a base, a plate having nut openingsfixed to said base, a platen rotatably supported on said base having nutopenings, ratchetteeth on said platen, a ring surrounding said platen, apawl carried by said ring, means'for oscillating said ring and causingsaid pawl to engage said ratchet-teeth, a thimble fixed to said platehaving an opening therethrough adapted to register with the openings insaid platen and plate, means for feeding nuts to the two last mentionedopenin s, means for supporting a nut in said thimble opening and meansfor sub ecting the shells of the nuts to a plurality of cuts. o

2. A nut shelling machine comprising a suitably supported plate having anut rehorizontal planes, saws attached to avoidceiving opening therein,upper and lowerslotted finger bars in alinement with said opening,motors plvoted to said plate, the shafts of said motors being indifferent shafts projecting through said slots, and separate means foradjusting said motors base, a platen rotatably mounted on said basehaving nut receiving openings, means for feeding nuts to said openings,upper and lower slotted finger bars, means for rotating said platen tobring said opening in alinement with said finger bars, a plurality ofpairs of saws, the saws of each pair being in different horizontalplanes, said saws projecting through the slots in said finger bars,means for adjusting the position of said saws vertically and as tocenter distance and motors for driving said saws.

5. A nut shelling machine comprising a suitably supported plate having anut receiving opening therein, slotted nut guidlng and supporting meansin alinement with said opening, pairs of saws in different horizontalplanes projecting through said slots, means for driving said saws andseparate means for adjusting said saws vertically, radially and as tocenter distance.

6. A nut shelling machine comprising a suitably supported plate having anut receiving opening therein, upper and lower finger bars in alinementwith said opening, means for advancing the .bars toward each other togrip the nut therebetween, means for advancing the bars and subjectingthe nuts to a plurality of cuts, means for separating the finger bars,and a fixed bar Within the lower finger bar coacting with the said baron its last downward movement for displacing the cut nuts.

' Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 6 day of May,1914.

JACOB GRIMM.

Witnesses SAUL W. LEVY,

SAMUEL STIMMEL.

